Air and water separator for removing air or water mixed with hydrocarbons, comprising a cartridge containing a wadding of wooden shavings



E. G. SPANGLER ARATOR MIXED IDGE CONTAINING VINGS Dec. 17, 1946. 2,412,841

' AIR AND WATER $13? FOR REMOVING AIR OR WATER WITH HYDROCARBONS COMPRISING A CARTR A WADDING 0F WOODEN SHA Filed March 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 17, 1946. SPANGLER 2,412,841

AIR AND WATER SEPARATQR FOR REMOVING AIR 0R WATER MIXED WITH HYDROCARBONS COMPRISING A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING A WADDING OF WOODEN SRAVINGS Filed March 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/I/l/l/ Patented Dec. 17, 1946 AIR AND WATER SEPARATOR FOR REMOV- ING AIR OR WATER IVHXED WITH HYDRO- CARBONS, COMPRISING A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING A WADDING OF WOODEN SHAVINGS Earl Spangler, La Canada, Calif.

Application March 14, 1944, Serial No. 526,461

.1 My invention relates to an air and water separator, and more specifically to one for separating the air and water from gasoline and other hydrocarbons.

Gasoline and other hydrocarbons often contain a considerable quantity of water and air in an emulsified and partly homogenized condition. Also in many of the methods of pumping gasoline and other hydrocarbons, water is used to force the flow of the hydrocarbons, and protecting means must be used to prevent this water from being mixed with the hydrocarbons.

The use of a gasoline containing, quantities of 2 Claims. (Cl; 210-43) water, is impossible in an airplane'motor. Water in an emulsified or homogeneous combination withgasoline, will settle out upon standing, and

necessary to separate the water from the gasoline.

In pumping systems a slug of straight water will through before the.

get in the line and be forced same can be shut off.

It is therefore an object of my invention to separate the water from the hydrocarbons whether the same is emulsified or in any other condition.

It is another object of my invention to separate air from the gasoline and other hydrocarbons.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air and water separator which will be completely automatic, and require no attention.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation partially in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation and side view of an element.

Figure 31s a cross-section of the bleed off valve.

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the inlet valve.

Figure 5 is a cross-section of the means for controlling the bleed ofi valve.

An air and water separator constructed in accordance with my invention, comprises a tank I which has an inlet 2 and an outlet 3. The gasoline or other hydrocarbons are forced into the ters the inlet 2, it settles to the bottom of the compartment 4. To prevent this water from passing on over and out through the tank, a float 6 is provided which has a specific gravity that causes it to sink in gasoline, but flloat in water. The float 6 when raised by water, actuates a valve which can be of any type which shuts ofi the inlet 2 until the slug of water has been bled oi! through the bleed-off pipe I and valve 8. A pre- .ferred type of valve for opening and closing the.

inlet to my separator comprises a main valve and a pilot valve. The-pilot valve is actuated by the float 6 carried on a lever pivoted on the hanger 3i. Pivoted at 32 is a clevis 33 which carries a needle valve 34for opening and closing a port on the pilot valve 35. The pilot valve 35 opens directly into the compartment 4. A bleed off tube 36 is connected to the other side of the pilot valve 35. This tube runs into the inlet 31 through a restricted orifice 38, and the tube 36 also enters the valve chamber at 43 on the lower side of the main valve 39. When the valve 35 is closed,

the normal line pressure in the inlet 31 passes through the restricted orifice 38 into the chamber 40 below the main piston valve 39 and forces the same upwardly so that it seats against the end of the inlet 2, completely closing the same. When the main float 6 falls, it opens the pilot valve 35 which bleeds on? the pressure in the chamber 40, reducing the pressure on the bottom of the main piston valve 39, allowing the pressure in the chamber 42 to open the main piston valve 39 and to permit the flow through the intake 31 into the chamber 42 and out through the inlet 2 into the chamber 4. Of course, if a slug of water comes over with the hydrocarbons the float 5 will rise, closing the pilot valve 35, and the pressure builds up in the chamber 40 causing the main piston valve 39 to seal the inlet tube shutting down the operation of myseparator until the water has been bled oif. However, emulsified or partially homogenized water or air suspended in the gasoline or other hydrocarbon, will not be so easily separated. To separate this, :a cartridge 9 of material is positioned in the tank between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3. This material has the of water of the size upon which gravity will act,

and cause the same to settle out to the bottom, where it settles in the sump l0 and can be bled off by the float II which actuates a bleed-off valve l2. This float II is similar to the float 5, in that it will sink in gasoline but will float in water. The air is caused to coalesce into large bubbles while passing through the cartridge 9. which enter the dome I3. In the dome I3 is a float 50 (buoyant in gasoline) which opens the air bleed-off valve 5| when sufllcient air is entrapped within the dome I3 to lower the liquid level. a

In a separator constructed in accordance with the preferred form of my invention, the float II is connected to a "MagnetroL" In Figure 5 is shown a Magnetrol. Of course, any type of valve meanscan be actuated by the float II, but for safety featuresI have found that the Magnetrol is safer when used with hydrocarbons. The float I I is connected to the "MagnetroP by a push rod GI which leaves the main tank I through a sealed sleeve 62. At the upper end of the push rod 8| is carried a steel sleeve 63. A hanger 54 carries a pivot G5Iupon which swings a magnet 56. Mounted on the hanger for the magnet 65 is a mercury switch 51. When the float II falls to the bottom of the sump ID, the steel sleeve 63 is drawn downwardlyinto the sleeve 62. When the water fills the sump III, the float II rises, pushing the sleeve 63 upwardly, and because of the attraction of the magnet 56 for this sleeve, the magnet 66 swings upwardly with sleeve 63 causing the mercury switch to tilt making an electrical connection which is wired to complete electrical circuit to energize the solenoid 61.

The solenoid fi'hhas a core Bil-which carries a needle valve 69. The needle valve 69 closes the passage 10 which connects with the bleed ofl discharge II. The passage 10 is ported at I2 into the valve chamber I3 above the spring loaded piston valve 14. The pressure from the main separator tank I through the bleed olf discharge II into the port 12 forces the piston valve 14 to seal the valve I5. When, however, the solenoid 61" is energized and the needle valve 69 opens, the pressure in the chamber I3 is bled off through the passage 16 allowing the pressure on the under surface of the piston valve 14 to raise the same and discharge the water from the sump out through the valve and the discharge pipe 71.

Many types of baflles and substances have been used in the place of the cartridge 9, but none secure the complete separation of the air and water from the hydrocarbons, as does the particular cartridge used in my separator. The cartridge used in my separator, consists. of a special type of what could be called excelsior. The shape of the particular elements of the excelsior which will cause the most successful ballle and cleavage of the fluid, consists of wood shavings 2| which are substantially a quarter of an inch in width, and between .007 and .031 inch in thickness.

While other sizes of excelslor will operate to separate air and water from the ..hydrobolted to collars 23 and 24 respectively, to permit their removal to give access to the interior of the tank I. Upon removal of the outlet fitting I, the valve I2v and the air-dome I3, and the end II of the tank I, the screens I5 can then be positioned against the angles I5. After the cartridge II has been inserted, the bolt I8 is passed through the centers 0! the screen, and the nut I9 is threaded on the bolt It to squeeze the screens I5 together .to place compressionon the cartridge 9. To

prevent bulging of the screens I5, I provide nuts and bolts 25 around their circumferences, to permanently bind the edges of the screens I5 to the angles I5. By removal of the end I! and the nut IS the cartridge can be changed when the same becomes contaminated by dirt and other impurities in the gasoline.

To be sure and clean all water from the sumps 4 and I 0, pet cocks 22 can be installed to drain the sumps.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention as incorporating automatic means for bleeding off the air and water separated from the hydrocarbons, the same can be dispensedwith and hand-actuated valves used.

I have described my invention in detail, but I am not limited to any of the details set forth except as described in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a separator, a cartridge through which hydrocarbons are passed to remove air or water mixed with said hydrocarbons, comprising a wadding of wooden shavings having a density of substantially 6.5 pounds per cubic foot, said wadding being composed of ribbons substantially one-quarter of an inch wide, and between .007

and .031 inch in thickness, said wooden shavings being resin free.

quarted of an inch wide, and between .007 and .031 inch in thickness.

EARL G. SPANGLER. 

